Festool Obsesstool.

[Woodwork Wizard]

I have been running my own woodworking business for over 20 years and always used the best that BoschDeWaltMakitaetc.etc. had to offer, then 11 months ago when I purchased a TS-55R with 2 x 1400 rails and a CT Midi extractor I was stunned by how good it was and so was completely hooked... Anyway, my question is, is it normal for this to happen to someone, then before long they start selling the tools they've used for years to replace the whole lot with Festool? And I don't just mean the tools and their accessories, I've even got the t-shirts, a Rotex watch and a beanie hat!

It's a condition that I call Festool Obsesstool.

My reasoning is that to my mind it is such a genius system that goes together so brilliantly that you can't help but love. Every Festool I now own seems to be many times better in every way than anything else I've ever had, seen or even ever heard of. It's so portable, very accurate, brilliantly organised and makes no dust. I do a lot of built-in furniture in occupied homes and my customers really appreciate their houses staying clean. All of this and numerous other reasons all leads me to believe that Festool isn't that expensive after all as it very quickly pays for itself, is all such a joy to use but best of all has made me a much more confident craftsman because I can do everything so much better now. Now that is priceless.

P.S. I have found the best way to treat Festool Obsesstool is to treat yourself to a Systainer. As and when required.

Ian

 

[roblg3]

Yes, I have drunk the green Kool-Ade and am a FESTOOLIAN as well!  I promote festool constantly, even though it's bad for my business to do so.  I'm getting close to full in my shop.  Although, I am not blind.  I have to shop, the festool label alone is not the only indicator for what will work best for me.  I have a festool router in my INCRA wonderfence set-up that connects to MFT and for me is much more versatile and yes....Better than the cms, FOR ME because i use the regular incra fence and cobbled together a way to connect my contractor grade tble saw to my MFT as well!  Don't forget to look at other high quality tools that you can incorporate into the system.  BTW Wiha makes some really nice hand tools.  Stabila for levels. Woodpeckers (USA) for squaring and layout.  Fein is another quality tool maker.  What is it about German tool companies!?!?!?!  I hope your pockets are DEEP my friend.... [wink]

 

[festooltim]

It is a great system the more you have the better they become together. And the smaller your bank account is. The sometimes overlooked benefit is the organization part of it. It is a never ending battle to keep organized and always be tweaking the system. May you live long and prosper and the FOG be with you.

 

[Kev]

... and he's gone.

 

[SS Teach]

That's the way it happens. Before you know it the systainers have multiplied and you're left wondering. But there is one thing you know for sure, they work better.

 

[sancho57]

Yea the systainers multiply faster than  tribbles

 

[#Tee]

i was in the exact same boat youre in the last 2 weeks. i was a die hard dewalt fan...then recently tried the mft3/ts55 with ct midi. opened the box and had the new tool smell and all! after beveling 2 passes on 4/4 stock ive noticed how stable/consistent the motor stayed with rpm and smoothness of the rail...then to have the midi come on and off with the saw was a huge plus. I cant say enough good things about the whole brand system. The items that needs to be heavy duty are and the pieces that needs to be light weight and practical are as well (they thought of everything!). I think i spend about 40% of my time looking for bit/tools now with how things are organized its just fun to locate each item! when i look at the whole systainers/mft3/wcr1000/mfh1000 it does not look like your typical carpentry/woodworking tools, i feel as tho im in a dental office with that layout! now i find myself not buying another brand and keep everything as a whole working unit with festool.  I wished they have an electrical and automotive division or at least a larger span of hand tools.

Now i use all my dewalt brusheless for outside work and they are my new loaner tools  :-\. i get nightmares of dropping any of my festools on the ground  ;D

 

[festooltim]

Don't mention dropping to the ground brings up some bad memories when my Kapex went to the pavement from my hands. It still sends chills down my spine. But all is well like men we rub some dirt over the scratches and move on.

 

[#Tee]

haha ya thats what i tell myself after its dirty and scratched up...battle wounds! i paid good money for it so it better take a beating and looks the part of a tough tool

original by tee_212, on Flickr

 

[Benjamin]

that is the funnest 1st world problem picture ever!

 

[markfive]

Just like #Tee I was a Huge Dewalt fan and I still am to a point. I would see vids and pics of the festool stuff and say those idiots, I would never pay that much... but I decided to buy the ts55r and mft for my first festool purchase about 6 months ago to cut panels for cabinets since my table saw would only cut up to 29 inches. After you use a festool tool you quickly figure out why they cost so much. Its just taking that initial plunge to buy your first tool...then its hook, line, and sinker

 

[#Tee]

Just like #Tee I was a Huge Dewalt fan and I still am to a point. I would see vids and pics of the festool stuff and say those idiots, I would never pay that much... but I decided to buy the ts55r and mft for my first festool purchase about 6 months ago to cut panels for cabinets since my table saw would only cut up to 29 inches. After you use a festool tool you quickly figure out why they cost so much. Its just taking that initial plunge to buy your first tool...then its hook, line, and sinker

ya i used to be like....omg why would someone pay 1400 for a miter??? my dewalt cuts perfectly and accurately enough for me. after the initial plunge you quickly realize how neat and tidy the whole system work together as a whole.

one thing they say about festool is that everything green serves a purpose? im looking at all the adjustment knobs ?? they serve a purpose right? the mft3 has a few accessories like the flag stop or the miter gauge knobs...why arent hose green as well? lol.

 

[anthonyz]

Yes, another new addict. Can't believe all the money thrown away before the green addiction. I stated just recently with the Domino when it was on sale several months ago. Then a CT Midi, then an ETS125, and been getting festool anywhere I can find a deal. To finds on craigslist and most recently crazy with the recondition tool sale picking up 4 tools. Now I have almost 10 tools in about 5 months. I have the TS REQ55 coming tomorrow. My last real want besides some accessories I still need will be saving for a Kapex. Maybe in a year. Lucky for me I don't have a wife to answer to.

I was hanging out at the local woodworking store and a guy came in for a router table set up. We got to chatting, and he ended up walking out with a Domino 500 and a CT36. lol. The guys had a Festool headlamp hanging around and gave it to me for making them a large sale. lol.

Now I have to sell off all the old tools which are just in the way. mmmmmm Green Koolaide...

 

[Wenyce]

Yes, another new addict. Can't believe all the money thrown away before the green addiction. I stated just recently with the Domino when it was on sale several months ago. Then a CT Midi, then an ETS125, and been getting festool anywhere I can find a deal. To finds on craigslist and most recently crazy with the recondition tool sale picking up 4 tools. Now I have almost 10 tools in about 5 months. I have the TS REQ55 coming tomorrow. My last real want besides some accessories I still need will be saving for a Kapex. Maybe in a year. Lucky for me I don't have a wife to answer to.

I was hanging out at the local woodworking store and a guy came in for a router table set up. We got to chatting, and he ended up walking out with a Domino 500 and a CT36. lol. The guys had a Festool headlamp hanging around and gave it to me for making them a large sale. lol.

Now I have to sell off all the old tools which are just in the way. mmmmmm Green Koolaide...

I think you guys where bit by the german lady bug, Festooccinellidae.
See how it clings to wood thats grabbed from an unsuspecting craftsman, and right when he's about to put down the piece of lumber, it jumps in, fangs deep, skin pierced, and starts causing the craftsman to go searching near and far for green and dark blue tools. It's never been said to be deadly, just contagious. The only cure is going to be written by the next person that answers this thread......

 

[Kev]

Lucky for me I don't have a wife to answer to.

They're available as a Festool accessory, the user manual is useless and the initial cost is nothing compared to the running cost [blink] [wink]

 

[bkharman]

Lucky for me I don't have a wife to answer to.

They're available as a Festool accessory, the user manual is useless and the initial cost is nothing compared to the running cost [blink] [wink]

And when you turn them on the first time, they make a god awful noise... But you get used to it over time. And they (like all Festools) will work much better with lots of accessories.

 

[andy5405]

These threads often pop up and I share a lot of the sentiments towards how good the Festool system is but I always have to remind myself that they are just tools, albeit very good ones. I think personally that there is a danger at times of becoming more of a collector than a rational user. I find that I don't often have the spare cash available for a Festool purchase and when I do there are a lot of other things on the list that should have priority.

A very good example would be my central heating system. It is in desperate need of some love and needs a new programmer, thermostat, 4 new rads, 3 way valve and TRVs all round. I have been saying that I will sort it out for the last 4 summers and it hasn't happened. None of these things are exciting purchases and the money has gone on systainers, sortainers and tools from various manufacturers.

I was about to hit the buy button the other day on an RTS400 and a load of sandpaper to the tune of about £280. I have "lusted" after one for a while now and everything was in my shopping cart ready to go. It would be a nice piece of kit to own but it was an irrational decision at the time. It took a lot of willpower to pull myself back from the brink but fortunately reason won the day on that occasion. It turns out that my world has kept turning perfectly well without an RTS400.

My latest obsession is mini lathes and I'm looking at a Sieg C3 or C6 at the moment.  I also want a home built router table and I'm looking at Triton routers for that. I use all my Festool stuff to make a living in customer's homes and the lathe and router table are for my new home workshop. It will hopefully get built over the next few months and I fully intend that the process will not be a Festoolfest.

I  can justify Festool at work but my pocket doesn't extend to Festool at home. I intend to become a hobby woodworker in my spare time and I know that there is amazing stuff being made the world  over in an extremely efficient, accurate and dust free way by people that have never heard of Festool. It is always always about the bloke hanging off the back of the tool.

Here's hoping I can beat my tool obsession and spend that money on central heating equipment. Even that has got complicated and of course knumbnuts here has had to look at all the new smart controllers with all their associated widgets and gadgets. Why research something that turns your heating on and off to the same level a PHD student would apply to a subject?

 

[wow]

These threads often pop up and I share a lot of the sentiments towards how good the Festool system is but I always have to remind myself that they are just tools, albeit very good ones. I think personally that there is a danger at times of becoming more of a collector than a rational user.

Why can't ya be both?

Why research something that turns your heating on and off to the same level a PHD student would apply to a subject?

This is why you need to hit the 'buy' button once in a while. It proves you're not caught in the 'paralysis of analysis'.

Seriously, too, it sounds like you and I share some traits. I do the analysis because:

• I refuse to make an uninformed decision. I may not find ALL the facts, but I can try!
• I don't want to make a stupid mistake due to not researching adequately.
• Despite what it seems like at times, I am VERY careful with my money.
• Nobody knowns ME better than me!

For instance, the number and order of sanders I purchased has turned out to be PERFECT. I smile when the question invariably comes up of 'which sander should I buy', knowing that I labored over it just like the 'new guy'  - because I was the 'new guy' at the time.

And I use (or have plans to use) EVERY ONE of my tools. I don't necessarily use them every day, but I don't 'baby' them either.

Now, please excuse me while I go out and gently wipe the dust off the sanders and put them carefully back in their beds....err, systainers.

[big grin]

 

[andy5405]

I can't be both as my finances won't allow it. The other thing I forgot to mention was my outstanding tax bill. Tool purchases must take a back seat till that is sorted out. I definitely have a tool obsession and it is my only form of retail therapy. That's great as it enhances my work but there are many calls on the hard earned cash we all earn and sometimes I feel my priorities get a bit skewed.

I have never heard the expression "paralysis of analysis" before but that so aptly sums up just about everything I buy. That's going to get a lot of use in my camp from now on. It reminds me of the time I bought my 1st flat screen TV. It became seriously obsessional and in the end I drove to my local Currys and just bought a telly so I could get on with my life.